News: Solar Storm, Adam Levine, Liberia, Josh Hutcherson

Largest solar storm in five years hits Earth: "The massive cloud of charged particles could disrupt utility grids, airline flights, satellite networks and GPS services, especially in northern areas. But the same blast could also paint colorful auroras farther from the poles than normal." Five facts you should know.

Adam Levine is launching a fragrance, called 222: "Adam is a performer with tremendous charisma, both on stage and on TV. Endeavoring to capture that in a bottle has thus far been very exciting and we're certain the final products will be even more so."

More than 100,000 have signed a petition asking Obama to sign executive order banning LGBT workplace discrimination.

Iowa anti-gay activist Bob Vander Plaats says 7th Annual Iowa Governor’s Conference on LGBTQ Youth discriminates against straight students: "The governor and his staff attempt to validate the governor’s full support of this conference by stating the conference is about anti-bullying, not about advancing homosexual behavior. Really? If this is sincerely the case, then this conference itself discriminates and excludes the majority of the students who are frequently bullied within our schools. Statistics show the vast majority (around 90 percent) of bullying incidents are because of race, physical attributes and other categories, not because of sexual identification."

Minnesota state Senator Scott Dibble slams Republicans for rejecting domestic partner bill: “This was a reasonable, compassionate amendment that simply would have ensured all Minnesotans have the ability to tend to their solemn responsibility and carry out the wishes of the person they love, during the most difficult circumstances–at the end of life. This was a simple choice about acting with humanity and affording families a measure of dignity; it’s unfortunate that Republicans tarnished it with politics.”

Michele Bachmann warns that Obama could mandate a 'one child one family' policy: "...it isn't farfetched to think that the president of the United States could say, we need to save healthcare expenses, the federal government will only pay for one baby to be born in the hospital per family, or two babies to be born per family. That could happen. You think it couldn't?"

Gay activist escapes 'mob' in Liberia: "It can be recalled that recently, Mr. Ponpon escaped a mob action after appearing on the Truth Breakfast Show on Truth FM to continue his gay rights advocacy. The mob, who gathered in their numbers before the radio station, threatened to mob him to 'death'. The mob said they were fed up with Mr. Ponpon's advocacy for gay rights here. His escape from the scene was facilitated by police officers dressed in riot gears."

1. @ David R.: Xianists won't give up on "let them have...dominion over all the earth" and "Be fruitful and multiply" that easily.
2. 222? Does Levine mean the 70s television show?

Posted by: Latebrosus | Mar 8, 2012 5:24:58 PM

"Statistics show the vast majority (around 90 percent) of bullying incidents are because of race, physical attributes and other categories, not because of sexual identification"

Which means that 10% of bullying is specifically because of the sexual orientation of the victim. Since about 5% of teens identify as gay, Vander Plaats' argument would seem to suggest that LGBT students are twice as likely to be victimized by bullying than the average student.

(there is a caveat: Vander Plaat's statistic doesn't clearly indicate whether his 10% includes victims of anti-gay bullying that are straight, but perceived to be gay)

Either way, by Vander Plaats' reasoning, every church service in America is an act of discrimination-- even if the church openly and actively invites non-Christians to attend-- unless it allocates its time in proportion to the American population. Therefore, I would assume that VanderPlaats' pastor spends at least 5% of his sermons discussing gay poetry, 13% on racially disproportionate prison sentences, 24% on the Pope's twitter feed, 51% on whatever women talk about these days, 10% left-handedly, and 2% shutting-the-hell-up (for the Quakers in-- and not in-- the house).

Posted by: Steven H | Mar 8, 2012 5:36:38 PM

the first line of defense against a 1-child policy is the constitutional right to privacy laid down in Roe v. Wade.

isn't it ironic that the same people who want to save us from federal government intrusion are committed to overturning the legal decision the keep the federal government out of our lives.

Posted by: eric | Mar 8, 2012 5:41:46 PM

Scott Dibble is from Minnesota and I am very proud of him for speaking up about this. Getting ready to fight that bigoted marriage amendment they are going to let people vote on here. I have every hope that MN will be able to beat this back...

Posted by: WayneMPLS | Mar 8, 2012 6:22:04 PM

Bachmann should shut up about one child -- the Obamas have two that they love -- why would he restrict others?

Michelle should keep an eye on her one child, hubby Marcus!

Posted by: David B. | Mar 8, 2012 6:34:44 PM

I just can't say this enough: Michele Bachmann is insane.

Posted by: Max | Mar 8, 2012 8:51:24 PM

So far as I can discover, Bob Vander Plop has never had a real job. He has leeched on Iowans as a perptual political candidate, then assumed leadership of several questionable "socially conservative" causes that scare old people into giving him money. Nearly everybody in Pella is "old" regardless of age.